Six months ago, Enzo Maresca was lifting the Club World Cup trophy. Now he is out of a job.
Chelsea confirmed on New Year’s Day that Maresca has left his role as head coach after just 18 months. The Italian won two trophies at Stamford Bridge. He delivered the Conference League title after beating Real Betis 4-1 in May 2025.
He then led Chelsea to Club World Cup glory with a 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in July. Despite those achievements, his time at Chelsea has come to an abrupt end.
The Blues currently sit fifth in the Premier League. They are 15 points behind leaders Arsenal after winning just once in their last seven league games. That poor run of form combined with reported tension behind the scenes made his position impossible to hold.
What Happened Behind the Scenes
The public breakdown started on December 13, 2025. After beating Everton 2-0, Maresca told reporters he had endured his “worst 48 hours” at the club. He claimed many people were not supporting him or the team. He never explained what he meant. That mystery only added fuel to the fire.
Reports suggest Maresca had clashed with Chelsea’s medical department over player management. The club operates a strict rotation policy to protect injury-prone players like Reece James, Pedro Neto, and Wesley Fofana. Maresca reportedly pushed back against this system. He wanted more freedom to pick his strongest teams regardless of what the data suggested.
Things got worse when Maresca allegedly told Chelsea bosses he had spoken to people at Manchester City about replacing Pep Guardiola. The suggestion that he used interest from City and Juventus as leverage for a new contract did not sit well with Chelsea’s hierarchy.
His final match was a 2-2 draw at home to Bournemouth on December 30. Fans booed when he substituted Cole Palmer. They booed again at full time. Maresca then skipped his post-match press conference, citing illness.
Enter Liam Rosenior
With Maresca gone, Chelsea need a new manager fast. They face Manchester City on Sunday. The early favorite is someone many fans might not know. His name is Liam Rosenior.
Rosenior is currently the head coach of Strasbourg in France’s Ligue 1. Here is the important detail: Strasbourg is owned by BlueCo, the same company that owns Chelsea. Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital control both clubs.
This connection makes Rosenior a natural fit.
But Rosenior is not just getting linked to Chelsea because of his bosses. The 40-year-old English coach has built an impressive resume quickly. He played over 140 games in the Premier League for clubs like Fulham, Hull City, and Brighton. After retiring in 2018, he moved into coaching.
Rosenior’s Coaching Journey
Rosenior started coaching Brighton’s Under-23 team while still playing. In 2019, he joined Derby County as a first-team coach. When Wayne Rooney became manager in January 2021, Rosenior became his assistant.
Rooney left Derby in June 2022, and Rosenior took over as interim manager. Despite dealing with a club in administration, he managed 12 games with seven wins, two draws, and three losses. Hull City hired him in November 2022. In his first full season, he guided them to seventh place in the Championship. They missed the playoffs by just three points.
Just two months after Hull sacked him in May 2024, Strasbourg came calling. Rosenior became the first English manager in the French club’s history. He finished seventh in Ligue 1 and qualified for the Conference League. His average squad age was just 21.8 years, the youngest in the league.
Why Rosenior Fits Chelsea
Rosenior’s tactical approach should fit Chelsea well. He favors possession-based football with a high press. His teams build from the back and dominate the ball.
The key difference from Maresca is Rosenior’s reputation for developing young players. At Strasbourg, he fielded the youngest starting lineup in Ligue 1 history. Chelsea have invested heavily in young talent. Their squad includes Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia, and Andrey Santos. Santos actually spent last season on loan at Strasbourg under Rosenior. The two already have a working relationship.
Football Runs in His Blood
Rosenior comes from a football family. His father, Leroy Rosenior, was a striker who played for West Ham, Fulham, and Bristol City. Leroy was honored with an MBE in 2019 for his work tackling discrimination in sport. Liam grew up watching his father plan tactics at the dinner table. Managing was always in his future.
Where Maresca Ranks in Chelsea History
Maresca’s two trophies put him in decent company. The Conference League win made Chelsea the first club to win all three major UEFA competitions. But compare him to the greats.
Jose Mourinho won eight trophies across two spells, including three Premier League titles. Carlo Ancelotti delivered the only league and FA Cup double in club history during 2009-10. Thomas Tuchel won the Champions League in 2021 plus two more trophies. Antonio Conte won the league in 2017 and FA Cup in 2018.
Maresca’s problem is that his trophies came in competitions many consider secondary. The Conference League is Europe’s third-tier tournament. He never challenged for the Premier League title.
My Take as a Chelsea Fan
This situation leaves me conflicted. Watching us lift the Conference League trophy felt good. Completing the set of all three UEFA trophies was historic. The Club World Cup win over PSG was even better.
But those highs came in competitions rival fans do not care about. When I see Arsenal supporters, they ask why we sit in fifth. The way Maresca handled December was embarrassing. Talking to Man City behind our backs? Skipping press conferences? Mourinho faced the media after every disaster. Maresca hid.
I will remember him as a manager who won trophies but never won my heart. So who would I choose next? Liam Rosenior. He knows how BlueCo works. He develops young players brilliantly. Sometimes you back someone before they become a superstar. Arsenal did it with Arteta. Why not us with Rosenior?
What Happens Next
Other names have been mentioned. Francesco Farioli of Ajax, former Barcelona boss Xavi, and Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola are all options. Cesc Fabregas and John Terry are reportedly not on the shortlist.
Chelsea hope to announce someone within days. For now, fans wait and wonder. This saga shows how ruthless modern football has become. Even two trophies cannot save you when results stop coming
